Air quality: wildland vegetation management burning: permits: exemption.

Assembly Member Ellis, joined by eight coauthors, proposes modifying California's agricultural burning oversight system by expanding the role of designated fire protection agencies while creating new exemptions for wildland vegetation management. The legislation would require the State Air Resources Board to task these agencies with comprehensive oversight of agricultural burning activities, beyond their current permit-issuing authority.

The measure establishes an exemption from existing permit requirements for wildland vegetation management burning when conducted by or under the supervision of designated agencies. To maintain safety and environmental standards without the permit process, the State Air Resources Board must develop specific guidelines and best practices for these activities. The board would also adopt new regulations to ensure all agricultural burning operations are conducted safely and effectively under agency supervision.

Local agencies designated by the State Air Resources Board would assume expanded responsibilities for overseeing agricultural burning activities in their jurisdictions. As these new duties constitute a state mandate, the bill provides for reimbursement to local agencies pending review by the Commission on State Mandates.